Landcare in Focus May 2026

Landcare In Focus is a biannual online magazine that features case studies, project information, photos, people profiles and science-based articles submitted by volunteers, groups and organisations involved in landcare from across Australia. The magazine content showcases articles about innovation in sustainable land management, revegetation and habitat restoration, protection of waterways, community participation in landcare projects, and excellence in agriculture and environmental stewardship. The magazine profiles the people across Australia who are actively caring for our natural environment.

16 | LANDCARE IN FOCUS MAY 2026

he Cotton Research and Development

Corporation (CRDC) has invested more

than half a million dollars across 11

feasibility studies for cutting edge projects

that aim to tackle some of cotton’s biggest

future challenges. Landcare Australia is proud

to be selected for their innovative project

WildSeek.

The successful projects in the CRDC Innovation Call, delivered by

some of the country’s leading startups, ventures, entrepreneurs,

agribusinesses and research organisations, were selected

following a national open call for innovative solutions to three

cotton challenges – preparing for a low-pesticide future,

optimising nitrogen use, and improving weed management. CRDC

offered up to $50,000 to support each individual feasibility study,

across these three key priority areas.

This project ‘Eyes in the sky: Using AI drones for weed detection

and prevention’, delivered by Landcare Australia utilises drones

and an advanced AI platform (WeedRemeed™) to detect hard-to-

spot weeds before they spread through cotton-growing regions.

With a focus on riparian zones, where manual surveys are difficult

or unsafe to carry out on foot, the system will process drone

imagery using advanced colour picking and machine learning

technologies to detect and geolocate weeds. Successful detection

models will identify weeds at an accuracy of over 80 per cent.

The work will include defining a target weed species. This process

will incorporate advice from ecological specialists as well as

knowledge shared by local landholders and community groups.

This will be followed by conducting suitability assessments,

undertaking drone surveys, and training the AI models before

the WeedRemeed™ technology is deployed through Landcare

Australia’s WildSeek hubs.

For more information: enquiries@landcareaustralia.com.au.

Words by Landcare Australia

Eyes in the Sky:

Using AI Drones for

Weed Detection

and Prevention

Katie Selhorst, Head of Landscape Restoration

and Chief Remote Pilot, said “The WildSeek Weeds

project is transforming how we detect weeds

by combining cutting edge drone and new AI

technology with on ground expertise. By finding

infestations earlier and more accurately, we can

protect productive landscapes and deliver better

outcomes for growers and the environment.

Delivered alongside the Centre for Invasive

Species Solutions and the Tamworth Regional

Landcare Association, the project will expand the

existing WildSeek and WeedRemeed™ frameworks

to create a scalable, community-driven weed

management tool.

The 11 successful applicants will now commence

their feasibility studies. Growers will have the

opportunity to hear more about the projects at the

Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast in

August.

16 | LANDCARE IN FOCUS MAY 2026